JAL, ANA may seek compensation over Boeing Dreamliner delay
TOKYO —
Japan’s two largest carriers said Thursday they may seek compensation from Boeing as they bemoaned the latest delay in delivery of its new 787 Dreamliner.
“We are extremely disappointed,” All Nippon Airways (ANA), the launch customer for Boeing’s new fuel-efficient jet, said in a statement. “This is the third delay in the delivery of the first aircraft, and we still have no details about the full delivery schedule.”
Japan Airlines (JAL), Asia’s largest carrier, said: “It is deplorable that Boeing again decided to delay the delivery.”
JAL “doesn’t exclude possibility of seeking compensation for possible damages to its business,” a company spokesman said.
ANA, Japan’s second-largest carrier, had originally been set to start flying 12 of the next-generation airliners by the end of last month in preparation for rising passenger demand during the Beijing Olympics in August.
An ANA spokeswoman said that the airline was assessing how much money it will lose because of the delayed delivery. “As this is the third delay, we are considering seeking compensation in line with the resulting delay in our business plan,” she said.
Australian flag-carrier Qantas as well as Air New Zealand both announced Thursday that they would seek compensation over the latest delay.
ANA said its first Dreamliner flights, first slated for last month, will be about one year and three months behind schedule. The carrier called on Boeing to provide a reliable delivery schedule.
Boeing has staked its future on the Dreamliner, a fuel-efficient jet which is the U.S. firm’s rival to the new Airbus A380 superjumbo.
Japanese carriers buy almost exclusively from Boeing. Japanese heavy industrial firms are contributing 35% of the construction of the Dreamliner, which uses plastic composites instead of aluminium.
Boeing said Wednesday that the latest delay was due to “unanticipated rework” of the aircraft as well as further problems with suppliers.
The first flight of the new airplane will move into the fourth quarter of this year rather than the end of the second quarter, and first delivery is now planned for the third quarter of 2009.
ANA ordered 50 Boeing 787s in 2004 for about $6 billion, while JAL, ANA’s main rival, has ordered 35 Dreamliners with the rights to purchase 20 more. It had expected to receive the first jets in August.
Order by Time Order by Popularity
5 Comments
Login to comment
0
some14some
Australian flag-carrier Qantas as well as Air New Zealand may seek compensation but not ANA or JAL. The delay is due shortage of spareparts and these parts are manufactured and supplied by Japanese Companies. Anyway, common clause in any business contract : No responsibility due unforseen circumstances or if you wish, like Japan does, link this to 'Sub-Prime' mortgage problem.
0
archiebald
Can't you read?
It says that ANA may seek compensation.
How do you know where the parts are manufactured? It is Boeing's responsibility - end of story.
Anyhow, if I were ANA or JAL I wouldn't worry about full schedules going to Beijing for the games. Only an idiot would go there and support the fascist government and its incredibly brainwashed and ignorant population.
0
terebiko
The parts are provided from companies all over the world, not just Japan. Ultimately, as archiebald said, it is Boeing's responsibility.
I heard that there was trouble fitting the parts together. Wonder if that caused a redesign of the parts causing these delays.
0
Sarge
If you're one of the people waiting for a flight on a Dreamliner - dream on!
"the latest delay in delivery"
Heck, it hasn't even test-flown yet.
0
kenchan
Airbus must be quietly smirking to itself....I wonder if the DL delays will get worse and beat the 380s time?
Back to top